MAFFRA SUGAR BEET MUSEUM
one museum  -  two sites
 

Sugar Beet Museum
Maffra 
Victoria

Robotic Dairy Interpretive Centre
Winnindoo
Victoria
 

• the rise, success and eventual end of the sugar beet industry in Maffra 1896-1948

• pre-European occupation of the area

• early European exploration and settlement of central Gippsland

• the Maffra township

• the progress in milking practices from C19th to today, including Australia's first robotic dairy

• the development of dairy processing and products

• the progress in transportation of dairy products

• current and future directions in the dairy industry

Please Note: the Beet Museum is currently closed while we up-date the displays; opening again in 2008.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
 

Entry by group booking
or on advertised
Public Visitor Days only
For details click here

• the museum has an extensive collection of photographs, local history texts and documents held in the Maffra Public Library
• the Maffra Public Library also holds the "Flo Pearce" document collection
• both these collections are catalogued and may be viewed during normal library hours
   

• all that remains of the beet factory is a large brick store beside the Sale Road railway crossing and the wooden office (see above), which has been moved about 1km from its original location to a site in Macalister Park beside the river where it has become the main part of the Maffra museum complex
• built in 1897, the building originally housed the Manager, his office staff, the strong room and a weighbridge used to determine the quantity of beet delivered directly to the factory by local farmers
   

• Maffra & District Historical Society Inc manages the Maffra Sugar Beet Museum on behalf of the Shire of Wellington and the Winnindoo Dairy Interpretive Centre complex in conjunction with the Warren family
• the Maffra Museum is open to the general public during the afternoon of the first Sunday of each month and to groups by prior arrangement (see below)
• the Winnindoo Dairy and Interpretive Centre are regularly open to groups only; prior booking is essential; group organisers and/or coach operators are invited to contact us for details; several open days are held each year for members of the general public (see above right)
   

• please note: all donations are assessed by the Acquisition Committee before acceptance in accordance with our collection guidelines
• a copy of the Museum's Donation Policy may be obtained by clicking here
• a copy of the Museum's Deed of Gift form may be obtained here
   

Maffra Sugar Beet Museum

we recommend the "Maffra Coach Package"

Currently suspended during up-grade
 

Winnindoo Robotic Dairy Interpretive Centre

please contact the Centre direct